And he certainly has proved that he can handle and develop the youngsters, sending 24 players to the NHL during his three years with the Grand Rapids Griffins, including 14 who made their NHL debut after playing for him.

But what about the veterans?

Blashill is just 41 years old, which would create an interesting dynamic considering that Pavel Datsyuk is 36 and Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall both are 34.

So I flat out asked him: "How do you think you will handle older players?"

"I don't like talking about stuff that is hypothetical," he said. "But the one thing I would say is, the best thing about the Red Wings' job is you have what I would call three of the best winners in hockey, in your captains there, in Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall. They are three of the best winners, not just hockey players, winners."

Four years ago, Blashill saw them in action when he spent a season as an assistant under Mike Babcock.

"I got to see that firsthand, how hard they work every day, how they lead every day, their attention to detail, their calmness in pressure situations," Blashill said. "I think, when you have guys that are of that quality character and that great of leaders, to be honest with you, those guys are easy to coach. It's no different from here."

Blashill already is coaching some players close to his own age in Grand Rapids. Team captain Jeff Hoggan, who has played in 107 NHL games, is 37. Hoggan has led the Griffins into the Western Conference finals against the Utica Comets. The seven-game series is tied, 1-1.

"I've had great leaders here," said Blashill, whose team will play Friday at home.

If he gets the Wings' job, Blashill would be a veritable old guy compared with some other NHL coaches. Paul Maurice was 28 when he was hired to coach the Hartford Whalers in 1995. Now he's 48 and has more than 500 NHL wins. And Scotty Bowman -- perhaps you are familiar with his work -- was 34 when he started coaching the St. Louis Blues in 1967.

But nearly a quarter of NHL coaches are in their 40s. When it comes down to it, age doesn't matter.

All that matters is whether you can coach. And one of Blashill's strengths is squeezing everything he can out of his players and helping them improve. Griffins goaltender Tom McCollum gives Blashill all kinds of credit for his development.

But Blashill also is good at helping players handle the mental side of hockey. Which brings us to how he handled a tricky situation involving Brian Lashoff.

In late January, the Wings put Lashoff on waivers and sent him down to Grand Rapids.

Blashill met with Lashoff several times, helping him get his head right. "He took me from a situation that could have been very frustrating," Lashoff said, "he made me start playing my hockey again and playing well and making me feel good about how I was playing and helping my teammates. He did a good job of putting my focus solely on this team and winning, and it's been good ever since."

Right after Lashoff's arrival, the Griffins got seriously hot, posting a franchise-record 19-game point streak (15-0-3-1) from Feb. 4 to March 20.

"When he has something to say, he doesn't hold back," Lashoff said. "You know where you stand with him. I think that's a big thing with players."

No matter how old the player is, and no matter how old the coach happens to be.